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The only nonfiction that ever gave me bad dreams
The Fall of Berlin 1945 by Antony Beevor
I think everyone should read this book. Especially anyone remotely associated with dealing with our foreign policy and defense. Every member of congress should have to provide proof he/she has read it. The sobering detailed description of the horrific apocalypse of systematic arson, gang rape, chaos, murder, starvation, and exposure meted out to the German populace by the Red Army taught me something: Don't ever, ever, do anything to compromise your ability to defend your homeland from a foreign army. Because once the bad guys get it in they will not play nice. And they certainly won't wait for you to recall your thinly stretched forces to home. The most sobering image in the book for me was the description of German civilians trying to cross the Elbe in a panic while the Red Army shelled and machine-gunned them mercilessly along with the remains of the Wehrmacht that were with them. But they chose to risk (a highly likely) violent death rather than be captured by the Russians. And another thing this book taught me. For those who see evil in all things USA, for those self-hating americans and smug euros who think USA is an evil force for oppression and suffering no different from any other despotic empire: Not one German civilian or soldier was trying to go the other way. Not one. No reports of panicked Germans fleeing the brutal depradations of the evil US soldiers. natedogg |
#2
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Re: The only nonfiction that ever gave me bad dreams
Thanks Natedogg. Just went to Amazon and read more about the book. This will be the next non-fiction book I read.
The "Good War" indeed [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] ~ Rick |
#3
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Re: The only nonfiction that ever gave me bad dreams
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Natedogg. Just went to Amazon and read more about the book. This will be the next non-fiction book I read. The "Good War" indeed [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] ~ Rick [/ QUOTE ] Excellent reference! I loved that book too. natedogg |
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Re: The only nonfiction that ever gave me bad dreams
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#5
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Re: The only nonfiction that ever gave me bad dreams
[ QUOTE ]
The Fall of Berlin 1945 by Antony Beevor I think everyone should read this book. Especially anyone remotely associated with dealing with our foreign policy and defense. Every member of congress should have to provide proof he/she has read it. [/ QUOTE ] I agree, I think all politicians should have to go to some quick educational program before leading this country. I'm not sure how you would really implement it, but there are too many politicians in office that don't have a clue when it comes to this kind of stuff. |
#6
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Re: The only nonfiction that ever gave me bad dreams
We should have to do "some quick educational program" before we vote. Politicians are in office because we chose them, and we're dangerously uninformed as a whole. Just my rant about voter responsibility (or lack thereof).
Good book Cody |
#7
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Re: The only nonfiction that ever gave me bad dreams
[ QUOTE ]
We should have to do "some quick educational program" before we vote. Politicians are in office because we chose them, and we're dangerously uninformed as a whole. Just my rant about voter responsibility (or lack thereof). Good book Cody [/ QUOTE ] Maybe both is in order. Maybe certain texts should be required reading in highschool/college in order to get a certain rating. I know they already have this, but I know a lot of people that made it through Yale and never even heard the about the book called "The Prince". |
#8
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Re: The only nonfiction that ever gave me bad dreams
Shouldn't the subtitle of this book be "Paybacks a Bitch"?
Wasn't a lot of this because of the Red Army's knowledge that the Germans weren't exactly nice in their invasion of Russia? The stand at Stalingrad, whole villages executed, etc. Maybe this should also be required reading for some flag waving goon when they start spouting off with their "nuke all the ragheads" crap. |
#9
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Re: The only nonfiction that ever gave me bad dreams
Or how about "The wrath of Stalin". He slaughtered millions of his own people because he couldn't believe the Germans could of invaded unless those Russians were helping them.
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Re: The only nonfiction that ever gave me bad dreams
I heard on the radio yesterday that it was Stalin's 100th (I think) birthday, and the people in his town had a raucous celebration commemorating the "great man's" birth.
Sickening. |
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